prudely

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From prude +‎ -ly.

Adverb

[edit]

prudely (comparative more prudely, superlative most prudely)

  1. Resembling or characteristic of a prude; prudishly.
    • 1836, Alexander John Ellis, “My Recantation”, in Verses, Cambridge: Metcalfe and Palmer, page 107:
      Had late observed my silent tear,
      That I was press'd, and press'd most rudely,
      Not to behave so very prudely ;
    • 1960, Thomas McAfee, “The Matriarch”, in Poems and Stories, University of Missouri Press, page 3:
      When you family-prayed on Sunday nights—
      The living room a crowd of things to do
      Each prudely solemn word defined your rights.